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The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.
 
 
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Norton Motte

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Northton

In the community of Presteigne.
In the historic county of Radnorshire.
Modern authority of Powys.
Preserved county of Powys.

OS Map Grid Reference: SO30416731
Latitude 52.29949° Longitude -3.02221°

Norton Motte has been described as a certain Timber Castle.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
Description

A ditched motte, 26m in diameter and 5m high, with a mutilated summit, c.7m in diameter. Across the B4355 to the E an area containing the vicarage c.150m by 80m, defined by natural slopes to the N and E and adjoining the churchyard of St Andrew's church to the S, is thought to represent the castle bailey. (Coflein)

Motte 5m high, base diameter 26m, damaged summit 7m diameter. Ditch 5m wide 0.3m deep on north-west, south-west and south-east sides. Roughly quadrangular bailey 150m north by 80m south bounded by ditch on south and west. Fragment of bank at south. Castle recorded in 1191 and was taken by the Welsh in 1262. Lewland in the mid 16th century recorded "a ltle pilet or turret", presumably on top of the motte (Silvester, R J 1994b, 132). Motte is becoming overgrown with shrubs and saplings (Cadw 1998). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. Norton Castle motte is c.26m in diameter and c.5m high, with a damaged summit c.7m in diameter. This is surrounded on the north-west, south-west and south-east sides by a ditch c.5m wide and c.0.3m deep, with a counterscarp bank outside it varying from c.8m to c.15m wide and from c.0.7 to c.1.5m high. The bailey is not scheduled but is assumed to occupy an area to the east, in the fork between the road and the next lane to its east. Scarps probably indicate its northern and eastern edges. The castle is recorded in 1191 and was taken by the Welsh in 1262. Leland in the mid 16th century recorded 'a little pilet or turret', presumably on top of the motte. (Scheduling Report)
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

Data >
Coflein   County HER   Scheduling        
Maps >
Streetmap   NLS maps   Where's the path   Old-Maps      
Data/Maps > 
Magic   Historic Wales   V. O. B.   Geology   LIDAR  
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.
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This record last updated 07/07/2016 10:10:16
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